Preparing for Benedict's Law

Get your school ready for Benedict's Law, from anaphylaxis training to guidance and helpful resources.

Helping schools feel confident, prepared, and ready to act

Benedict's Law, a new national protection policy, is set to be introduced in September 2026, bringing a focus on schools being able to recognise and act on severe allergic reactions. For many schools, it may raise an important question: "Are we ready?".

However, being prepared and acting now doesn't have to be daunting.

Here at St John Ambulance, we'll provide support to you and your school every step of the way, so your staff feel confident to act when needed, your response processes are clear, and your pupils are protected.

Get 20 FREE anaphylaxis eLearning courses with every Onsite First Aid at Work training course

Prepare your school for the new term and the introduction of Benedict's Law with a 12-person onsite First at Work course - and receive 20 free anaphylaxis eLearning course*.

Book your onsite course today
Anaphylaxis First Aid Course - Classic, by St John Ambulance

What is Benedict's Law?

Benedict's Law is a new national school allergy safety bill coming into force in schools across England, with ongoing campaigns to hopefully extend across the UK. The law was developed to improve allergy safety in schools, following the death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who died from anaphylaxis in 2021. Named after Benedict, Benedict's Law passed in February 2026 and aims to teach staff to recognise and respond quickly to severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.

Benedict's Law will require schools to:

  • Develop a clear allergy policy - how to respond to emergencies
  • Ensure staff are trained - in recognising the signs with anaphylaxis training
  • Provide access to emergency medication - like adrenaline auto-injector pens
  • Improve communication and record keeping - to ensure allergies are tracked

These simple measures ensure schools are ready and prepared in case of an emergency anaphylaxis incident, and can make a life-saving difference.

Find out more with our anaphylaxis training course

Did you know...

of anaphylactic reactions in schools happen to children with no history of food allergies*.

of fatal food anaphylaxis happens while children are at school*.

of teachers do not feel confident or prepared to manage an allergic reaction**.

* AllergyUK
**Allergies in School Teacher Survey

Why Benedict's Law training matters for your school

Severe allergic reactions can happen quickly, and without the right allergy training for schools, it can be difficult to know what to do. This can lead to critical situations.

With Benedict's Law, the new school allergy safety bill, schools will become better prepared, with the aims of:

  • Faster recognition of symptoms
  • Quicker and more confident responses
  • Safer school environments for children with allergies

Preparation doesn't happen overnight, but getting ahead of the new school year with anaphylaxis training and Benedict's Law training will help you and school staff become trained where it matters most.

Book your Benedict's Law training today

Our First Aid at Schools training courses

Prepare your team for Benedict's Law with on-site or eLearning training
Find out more
School staff engaging in a conversation, looking at a tablet. A preview of a printable certificate.
St John Ambulance

Benedict's Law (Anaphylaxis) eLearning

From £32.50
From £32.50
1 hour 
  • Keeps knowledge fresh and current through simple, engaging online learning
  • Flexible and convenient, allowing learners to refresh skills anytime, anywhere
  • Boosts workplace safety, ensuring staff are confident and ready to respond in an emergency
Learn More
Anaphylaxis First Aid Course - Classic, by St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance

Anaphylaxis First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises

From £636.00
From £636.00
1/2 day  | 09:00 - 12:00
  • A group price for up-to 12 delegates, at your premises
  • Learn to spot and treat severe allergic reactions fast.
  • Get hands‑on with auto‑injectors and essential CPR skills.
  • Perfect for anyone supporting people at risk of anaphylaxis
Learn More
Schools First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises Schools First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises
St John Ambulance

Schools First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises

From £930.00
From £930.00
1 day  | 09:00 - 16:30
  • A group price for up-to 12 delegates, at your premises
  • Learn essential first aid skills tailored for school environments, including CPR and AED use.
  • Gain confidence to respond to common injuries and medical emergencies involving pupils.
  • Receive a three-year St John Ambulance certificate to support compliance and safety standards.
Learn More
Schools First Aid Schools First Aid
St John Ambulance

Schools First Aid

From £155.00
£0.00
From £155.00
1 day  | 09:00 - 16:30
  • Learn essential first aid skills tailored for school environments (ages 6-16), including CPR and AED use.
  • Gain confidence to respond to common injuries and medical emergencies involving pupils.
  • Receive a three-year St John Ambulance certificate to support compliance and safety standards.
Learn More
Paediatric First Aid Paediatric First Aid
St John Ambulance

Paediatric First Aid

From £170.00
£0.00
From £170.00
2 days  | 09:00 - 16:30
  • Learn essential first aid skills for babies and children (0-5 years of age), including CPR and choking response.
  • Meets Ofsted and EYFS requirements with a flexible blended learning format.
  • Receive a three-year St John Ambulance certificate for compliance and peace of mind.
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Paediatric First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises Paediatric First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises
St John Ambulance

Paediatric First Aid (On-Site) at your Premises

From £1,020.00
From £1,020.00
2 days  | 09:00 - 16:30
  • A group price for up-to 12 delegates, at your premises
  • Learn essential first aid skills for babies and children, including CPR and choking response.
  • Meets Ofsted and EYFS requirements with a flexible blended learning format.
  • Receive a three-year St John Ambulance certificate for compliance and peace of mind.
Learn More

Our First Aid at Schools training courses

Prepare your team for Benedict's Law with on-site or eLearning training

Find out more

Be ready for September 2026

Schools across the nation are already starting to prepare for Benedict's Law. As of September 2026, allergy safety is moving from best practise to a clear expectation. This includes allergy training for school staff, which plays a central role in keeping pupils safe. It doesn't stop at teachers either, Benedict's Law needs to be enforced and communicated with all school staff, whether that's lunchtime teams, administrative staff, caretakers and teaching assistants, or even minibus drivers and sports coaches.

Taking action now with anaphylaxis training or Benedict's Law training for staff, will give your school the time and space to prepare properly, without the pressure of last-minute changes or rushed training.

Why early preparation is key

  • Avoid the September rush: September is one of the busiest times of year for schools and training providers. By booking your allergy training for schools in advance, like on INSET days, you'll be securing the right course and time that works for your staff.
  • Make the most of INSET days: INSET days are one of the few opportunities to gather your school staff together without pupils. Making it the ideal environment for practical, hands-on training that brings confidence in your staff in case of an emergency. Whether it's learning how to recognise an allergic reaction, or how to administer an adrenaline auto-injector pen.
  • Build staff confidence early: Confidence, and not just awareness, is key when staff need to act. Emergencies happen unexpectedly, and being able to act where every second counts with confidence can make a life-saving difference.
  • Develop a clear and consistent process: Benedict's Law encourages a whole-school approach, where every member of staff understands their role and is prepared. By planning ahead and starting your Benedict's Law training now, you'll be able to establish clear emergency responses, align training with your allergy policy and ensure consistency across the entire school team.

Browse our on-site Schools First Aid courses

What schools need to do to comply with Benedict's Law

Taking steps to prepare for Benedict's Law this September doesn't have to feel overwhelming, because direction is clear: take practical, proactive steps in improving allergy safety and emergency response.

This also doesn't only include teachers, but the entire school community, making sure they know how to act when a severe allergic reaction happens. Which is why the steps below will outline where to focus your efforts, helping you build a safer, more consistent approach towards Benedict's Law, ahead of September 2026:

1. Train your staff: not just first aiders. All staff should be able to:

  • Recognise allergic reactions
  • Respond quickly and effectively
  • Be able to use adrenaline auto-injector pens

2. Review your school allergy policy: make sure your allergy action plan for school is:

  • Up to date
  • Clearly communicated
  • Accessible to all staff

3. Prepare for real-life scenarios: in a real emergency, quick action and confidence matter. Therefore, all staff need to know:

  • What signs to look for
  • What to do
  • How to act quickly

Find out more with our anaphylaxis training

Benedict's Law represents an important shift in safety at schools. It's an opportunity to strengthen your school's approach to allergy safety, supporting your staff, and creating an environment where every pupil feels protected.

By taking appropriate action now, through training, developing clear processes and preparing for Benedict's Law, you'll be able to move forward with confidence knowing your team is ready to respond when it matters most.

Prepare today, so your school is ready for September 2026.

How St John Ambulance can support your school

St Joh Ambulance is the UK's leading first aid charity, where we've been helping communities respond to emergencies for over 140 years.

Our training is designed to be:

  • Practical and hands-on
  • Easy to understand
  • Relevant to real-life environments

Our focus has always been the same: giving people the confidence and skills to act when it matters most. Which is why our first aid training is led by experts who deliver a hands-on approach that helps turn knowledge into action - making sure your team feels confident and prepared.

Book your school's first aid training

Benedict's Law FAQs

When does Benedict's Law come into force?
Benedict's Law is expected to come into effect from September 2026.

Do all school staff need training?
Yes, it's important that all staff should be able to recognise allergic reactions and be able to respond quickly and effectively.

Our schools first aid training and anaphylaxis training courses will teach you how to respond to allergic reactions.

What first aid training do schools need?
Schools should ensure their staff are trained in:

  • Recognising allergic reactions
  • Responding to anaphylaxis
  • Using adrenaline auto-injector pens

It is also important that staff are first aid trained, so they're able to respond to any accidents that may occur at school.

Does Benedict's Law apply to nurseries?
Currently, it only applies to schools, and nurseries and other early years settings sit outside Benedict's Law.